Tips for Traveling to the Philippines for the First Time

If you have decided to travel to this beautiful piece of paradise in the world, in this guide you will find all the information and advice necessary to make your trip an unforgettable experience.

The archipelago of the Philippines consists of more than 7,000 islands and is one of the most diverse areas in the world. Its exuberant nature, its paradisiacal beaches and the warmth and hospitality of its people will make you fall in love with the Philippines!

When to travel to the Philippines?

When it comes to planning your trip you should know well which the best time to travel to the Philippines is. The Philippines has the handicap of having a rather intense rainy season, even with a well-marked typhoon season and being such a big country, this rainy season does not affect in the same way all regions. The problem of not knowing how to choose your route well in the rainy season is that you can have problems with connections by sea and air which can become a problem if you do not have a lot of time. On the contrary, during the dry season you can enjoy the whole country without any problem.

Do I need to get vaccinated to travel to the Philippines?

There is no mandatory vaccine to travel to the Philippines, with the exception of yellow fever for those who come from an endemic region. Currently the recommended vaccines to travel to the Philippines are Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Typhoid fever. To be safe, you better check with your local physician.

How to move around the Philippines

Moving around the Philippines can be very slow. Going from one island to another can sometimes take more than a day and you will have to use two or three different means of transport. The safest thing is that you get around the Philippines by air. The international airports are those of Manila and Cebu.

Is it safe to travel to the Philippines?

The Philippines is a safe country and the warmth and hospitality of its people will make you feel at home. As in most Asian countries, cities and tourist areas can be more dangerous due to thefts and scams, but nothing beyond that. As a preventive security measure, we recommend that you write down on your mobile or in a notebook, the address of your embassy or consulate in the Philippines. Another good idea is to book some of the trip with a local agency, so you have a local point of contact.

What to see in the Philippines?

Here is all the updated information of the places we have visited during our trip to the Philippines. Following our travel style, our first trip to the Philippines was focused on traveling to the most recommended island of Palawan (El Nido and Port Barton), Bohol (the tours to Balicasag, Chocolate Hills and the Tarsiers sanctuary) and the beautiful islands of Bantayan and Malapascua north of Cebu. In this route for 5 islands we saw so much in a month of vacation. It’s incredible but true. In the Philippines, less is more. And it is not difficult to get used to the beautiful sunsets of the country or the blue waters that bathe such as the paradisiacal beaches of Papaya beach near El Nido or Paradise beach on the island of Bantayan. But beware! Swimming between corals and turtles, diving with sharks or simply enjoying the Filipino way of life is easier than you think.